Automatic telephone switch



Dec. 2, 1924. 1,517,265

H. B. TAYLOR AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SWITCH Filed Jan. 7, 1922 lllllll VI II'I'" lIIIlllI//llll////// &

Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT B. TAYLOR, F WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COIx IPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SXVI'ICH.

Application filed. January 7, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hnninnrr B. TAYLOR,

a citizen ot the United States, residing at l l esttield, in the county oi? Union, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Automatic Telephone Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to switching apparatus, and more particularly to switches of the type adapted tor use in automatic telephone exchange systems.

In the British Patent No. 183338, issued to \Vestern Electric Coi'npany, Limited, accepted September 6, 1923, an automatic telephone system is disclosed in which a switch structure employed having certain rotatable bars each assigned to groups of incoming lines, other rotatable bars assigned individually to link conductors and still others to outgoing lines or trunks. Each of the incoming line bars being associated with a plurality of incoming lines is necessarily operable to participate in the establishment of coexisting connections between a plurality of its associated lines and idle trunks and by such an arrangement a very important economy is effected in that the number oi operating bars and ancillary parts is materially reduced.

It has been Found that successive "operations of the line bars of the switch structure shown and described in the above noted British. Patent No. 183,4l38 of 1923' sometimes tend to disturb existing connections sutiiciently to produce noise on the subscribers lines. a mechanical connection subsists between the operated contacts and the line bar.

The object of the present invention is therefore, the provision of a suitable switch structure of the character hereinbefore described which will obviate the possibility of successive operations of the line bars disdo turbing existing connections.

The principal "feature of the invention consists in the combination with normally disengaged contacts of normally ineffective means for operating the contacts and other means operable to render the first means effective, the arrangement of such means permitting the second mentioned means to operate successively to participate in the estabautomatic This is due to the fact that Serial No. 527,585.

lishment of coexisting connections without disturbing any of the connections previously established.

In its preferred form the invention con sists in the COIIlblDLlJ'lOll with a contact set ot a rotatable operating member and a pair of coordinate bars, one of which is operable to impart a preliminary movement to the operating member whereby the latter is rendered engageable by the other bar-to be moved thereby into its fully operated position, in which position the operating memher is unresponsive to further operations ot the first bar.

Figs. 1 and 2 are both cross sectional plan views of the preferred form of the invent on. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred form showing one contact set and the operating elements therefor. Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the preferred form showing two sets of active contact wires and two sets of link conductors together with the operating members for the active contact wires. Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a modification of the. selecting mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 6 and 7 are elevations of a modification.

In Fig. 1 there are shown, in cross section, two bars 1 of insulating material. These bars are usually of considerable length and embedded therein are a number of sets of horizontally extending active contact wires, each set in the present insl'ai'ice consisting o'l l'oi'lr wires 2, 3, l: and 5. in the fragmentary view, Fig. 14-, two such sets of active contact wires are shown. The active contact wires extend through the bars 1 and the rearwardly extending ends are used as soldering terminals for electrical connections. While only two of the bars 1 are shown in Fig. 1, in actual practice there would ordinarily be a considerable number of such bars employed, the number used being arbitrary and depending upon trafiic requirements and economic considerations. The number of sets of active contact wires on each bar 1 is also arbitrary and likewise dependent on trafiic requirements and economic considerations.

Extending horizontally and transversely of all the bars 1. are a number of sets of passive contact wires, each of which sets in till the present instance comprise tour wires (3, 7, and S). These latter wires are supported at their ends and may also be supported in termediately of their ends by suitable sup ports not shown. The wires 6, '7 S and 9 are zu)pi-i )riately referred to hereinafter as link conductors. The link conductors taken in the aggregate together with their sup porting n'iembers may be referred to as a grid on account of the grid-like appearance which they present when assembled.

As will be evident from the drawing, each set ot link coruluetors is accessible to one set of Eltjlll'ft. contact wires on each bar 1. and there would therefore be provided as many sets ot link conductors as there sets ot active coi'itact wires on. a. fflt. bar l. hen the present switch structure is used in an iutomatic telepliione system such as that described in the British Patent No. 18",4538 of 1923 hereinbe'fore referred to, certain of the vertical rows of active contact sets comprising wires 4 3. a ant. 5 are as signed to incon'iiitig lines and are divided into arhitary groups, the sets of each group being multiply connected to an incoming line. It will, therefore, be seen that each incoming line has access to a phirality of sets of link conductors, but since there are a plurality of vertical rows of active contact wires as signed to incoming lines, it will also be seen that each set of link ctnuluctors is conunon to a plurality of incoming lines. The remaining vertical rows oi active contact sets are each assigned to an outgoing trunk and the several sets of active contact .vires comprising each such row are connected in multiple. It will accordingly be seen that each incoming line may have access to any trunk through the medium of any one of several sets of lint: conductors. To extend a connection from an incoming line an idle set of link conductors accessible to that line and an idle trunk are selected and two sets oi active contact Wires are operated to en gage the selected set of link coiuliu-ztors.

in each vertical row of active contact sets assigned to outgoing trunks, only one eoa nectiou may be had at a time as the entire row is connected to one trunk, but in the vertical rows assigned to incoming lines it is necessary that a plurality oi? coexisting conneitions may be established as each of these rows is divided into groups. each 0t which is connected to a different incoming line. It is, therefore. essential that the operation of establishing a connection in one ot the latter vertical. rows shall be accomplished without any disturbance or coexisting connections in that row. The meclnrnism for operating the active contact sets about to be described meets the above requirements.

\Vith each set of active contacts there is individually associated a rotatable operable member comprising a metal yoke 10 embracing the nonrotatable bar it and having an integral rea-rwardly extending arm it). A coil spring 12 engages the bar ll and yoke 10 and normally holds the yoke 10 in its non-operated position as shown in Fig. 3. To the yoke it) there is attached a plate l3, preferably ott' insulating n'iaterial. having four fingers 13, 13". 13 and 18*. Each of the active contact wires 2, 3 l and formed with a hump 2', 3", etc, with which the fingers 133', i21 e c. are adapted to en gage when operated and whereby the active contact wires are camined into engageu'ient with their associated link conductors (3 7, s and 9.

For each vertical row there is a rotatable bar Ll: provided with an armature l5 adapted to be attracted. by an electromagnet 16 whereby the bar 14: is rotatable through a small angle. A plurality of lingers 1.7 one for each set of active contacts in the vertical row embrace the bar 14.- and are yieldiugl secured thereto through the medium ot the coil springs 18. When bar let is rotated in response to an energizaatiou ot its electromagnet 16, the fingers 17 thereon are moved into engagement their associated plates 13 providing these plates are in their normal positions as shown in Fig. 1" this operation of the lingers l, the rotatable operating members comprising the yokes ll) and plates 13 are given a preliminary rotation against the tension. of the springs 12 to a position wherein they may be individually selected and further operated by the longitudinally movable horizontal bars it). The last mentioned bars are individual to the sets of link conductors and are provided with a plurality oi laterally extending lugs 19, each of which is individual to one of the rotatable operatingmembers, there being as many lugs 19 on each bar 15) as there are vertical rows of active contact sets. It will therefore be seen that each bar '1!) is adapted to operate one Sl, oi? active contacts in each vertical rowr An electroniae'uet 2t) and an armature ill are provided tor each bar if) for operating the san'ie and. a restoriu spring 22 is secured to the opposite eml or each of said bars.

At the right-hand side of Fig. 1 an ope"- ating member is shown .in its normal 3o tion. At the left-hand side ot the same ti are an operating member is shown in its preselected position to which it has been moved. by the finger 17 wherein the arm in is so disposed as to be engageable by the lug 19' of the horizontal bar '10 upon a longitudinal movement tl'iereot. The operating member at the right-haml to of Fig. 2 is shown operated and at the left of Fig the operating men'iber is shown in its pieselected position but in this instmicc the horizontal bar 1!) was operated prior to the preliminary operation elfectcd by the linger 1T.

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If the bar 19 of Fig. 2 should restore to normal while the operating member at the left of that figure is in the position shown, the lug 19 will pass the arm 10 by virtue of the fact that both the operating member and the finger 17 are yieldingly mounted. Thus, the finger 17 may be pressed back against the tension of its spring 18 without turning bar ll, and consequently, without disturbing any preselected operating member above or below in the same vertical row. In this connection it should he understood that all the non-operated operating members in the same vertical row are sii'nultaueously moved into their preselected positions in response to the operation of their associated bar 14.

l i hon an operating member is fully operated as shown at the right of Fig. 2, further operations of the bar 14. associated therewith are ineffective with respect to that operating member because the plate 13 is disposed out of reach of the finger 1i and coexisting connections are therefore not disturbed by the operations of the bars 14 and the noise on the subscribers lines which. would otherwise be produced is obviated.

When the present switch structure is employed in the automatic telephone system described in the aforementioned British patent, connections are established by selectively operating two of the vertical bars 1%, one of which is associated with the calling incoming line and the other with an idle trunk, and subsequently operating a bar 19 which is associated with an idle set of link-con ductors to which the incoming' line has access.

As soon as a connection is established the bar lt associated with the incoming line is released and may be again operated to participate in the connection of another of its associated incoming lines with an .idle trunk, and it may be repeatedly operated until all of its associated incoming lines are con nected to trunks providing there are enough trunks available.

In the modified form of Fig. 5 each set of active contact wires L, 3, 4:, and 5 is provided with a card 23 of insulating material whereby the active contact wires are simultaneously moved into engagement with the link conductors 6, 7, 8 and 9. The horizontal ar 2 5i is rotatable by means of an electromagnet (not shown) and is provided with a plurality of laterally extending arms 25, one for each set of associated active contact wires. At the end of each arm 25 there is a pivotally mounted member 26 which is normally held in the position shown by means of the spring 27. The vertical bar 28 is likewise rotatable and is provided with a plurality of hook-shaped pins 29 which when bar 28 is rotated out of its normal position are adapted to engage their associated pivoted members 26 so as to turn them into such a position that their lower ends are in alignment with the V-shaped notches at the upper ends of the cards When the members 26 have been thus preselected a rotary movement of the bar 24 will cause the member 26 to engage the card 23 and to force the latter together with the active contact wires 2, 3, a and 5 downwardly into engagement with the link conductors 6, 7, 8 and 9. When the contact set is operated the member 26 is positioned below and out of reach of the hoolcshaped member so that subsequent operations thereof are ineffective to disturb coexisting connections.

The modified form of Figs. (5 and T is quite similar to that of Fig. 5. In this mod ification the laterally extending arms 30 are resilient in one direction. In Fig. 6 the arm 30 is shown in its normal position in full lines and in its o'tf-norn'lal position in dotted lines. Upon a rotary movement of the vertical bar 31, the hook-shaped pins thereon, press all the non-operated resilient arms 30 in their off-normal positions as indicated by the dotted lines. .After such preselecting operation a downward movement of the free end of an arm 30 effected by a rotary movement of the horizontal bar 83 will cause the arm 30 to engage the V-shaped notch on top of the card 3% and to press the card together with the active contact wires downward into engagen'ient with the link conductors. It is thought that the brief descriptions given in connection with Figs. 5, 6 and 7 will be sufficient for an understanding thereof in view of the extensive description herein of the preferred form of the invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 1, inclusive.

The invention is capable of n'ioditications and it is to be limited only by the scope of the claims hereinafter.

' \Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a switch structure, a passive con tact, an active contact, a. member operable to move said activecontact with relatimi to said passive contact, n'ieans for effecting such operation of said member. said member being normally positioned out of on gageable relation to said means and other means operable to move said member into engage-able relation with said first means, said member, when fully operated, being unresponsive to subsequent movements of said second means.

2. In a switch structure, a passive contact, an active contact normally disengaged from said passive contact, normally ineffective means for operating said active con tact, and means for renderingthe operation of said first means effective, said contacts when engaged, being unresponsive to subsequent operations of said second means.

In a switch structure, groups of contact sets, group selecting mechanisms each til) individual to one of said groups of contact sets, operating means individual to one set of contacts in each group and effective to operate its associated in: selected groups but inetl e'ctive to operate its non-selected associated sets of contacts said contacts be:- ing unresponsive to subsequent operations of said group selecting mechanisms.

4. In a switch structure, groups of contact sets, group selecting. i ne'chanisms eachindividual to one of said grouis o-t conta t sets, operating members ind 'iidual to sa .Q' sets of contacts,- and operating mechanisms con nnon to the several groups and each in dividual to one contact set in each group; mcans for moving said 5 cup selecting mechanisms to select their associated groups whereby said operating mechanisms are ren dered effec c with respect to the contact sets in the selected groups, the operations of said group selecting: me'cl ranisms being ineffective to transmit motion to operated contact sets.

5; Ina switch structure, coordinate rows of contact sets, an cmeratir n c her for each; contact set, bars indiv' 1 to the rows oi. contact in one direc on, bars individual to the rows of conact sets in the other direction, the conjoint operation of one each of said barsbeing;- eli ectiwe to positively operate one of said: setsot con tacts, the continued operation of said contact set being independent of one oat said bars. and subsequent operations 01% said last mentioned bar being iriefi'ective to turn: mt motion to the operated contact set 6. In a switch structure, cooi-"d i nate rows of contactsets, bars individual to the rows of contact sets in one direction, bars indi vidualtothe rows contact sets in: the other direction, eaclr of said con-tact being selectively and positi l'y operable by the conjoint operation of a particular bar oi each set, the ("OIlfililllbttl operation o'l any set of contacts beinpimdcpendmit ct the continuei-l oy'ieraition od one of: the bars nvrtici parting in the establishment tlie-reoli. said last mentioned bars being" adapted to participate in the operation of other contact sets without transmitting motion to any of. their associated previmisl y operated corvtact sets conti in in operation.

7. In a switch structm e, a contact set, an operatingmember for said contact set, a longitudinally movable ba l for moving said operating member to (merate sa id contact set, said operating member being normally positioned out of engage-able relation witlr said lonlgritrmliiually movable bar. and a rotat ble bar adapted to transmit a preliminary movement to" said operating member whereby the latter may be engaged by said lrmgitud inally movable bar.

8-. In a switch structure, a contact set, an operating member for said contact sci,

a longitudinally movable bar for moving said operating member to operate said contact set, operating member being normally positioned out of engageable relation with said longitudinally movable bar and a rotatable; bar adapted to transmit a preliminary movement to said operating member whereby the latter may be engaged by said longitudinally movable bar, said operating member, when fully operated, icing ulmll'ected by any snbr-ieipieut (niieratious of said rotatable bar.

9. In a switch strl-zcture, passive contact-a. active contacts normally (liselrefagged from said passive c nta -t;- rotatable operating! member for said active emits selective means for rotating said operating member to ellect operation oil said contac s, said operating member being normally uncugageable by said selective means, and other selective means operable to efifect a preliminary rotation of said operating men'iber whereby the latter is rendered changeable by said first selective means.

10'. In a switch structure, passive contacts, active contacts normally disengaged lroni said passive contacts, a rotatable operating member for said active contacts, long tudinally movable bar for rotating StLitl operating member to effect operation of said contacts, said operating. member being; normally unengag'cable by said bar, and a rotatable bar selectively operable to effect a preliminary movement of said operating member whereby the latter is rendered engageable by said first mentioned bar.

11. In a switch strluzture, passive contacts. active contacts normally disengaged from said passive contacts, a yieldingly mounted rota-tableoperatingi member tor said active contacts, a restoring spring ilor said operating member,- a longitudinally movable bar for rota-ting;- said operating: me thei to effect operation oi? said contactm said operating memlticr being. norm-ally uuei able by said bar, a: loita table ban. a in ingly mounted member on sa bar. and a restoring spring- (:oIriiectin-g. said last: mentioned me-nrber with saidrotatable bar. a rotary movement oi said: rotatable bar in one direction being e'ttective to move the yieldi ngly mounted: member thereon against said operating member when the latter is in its normal position and thereby to impart a preliminary movement to said operating member to render the latter enga gteable by said longitudinally inomtble bar, 7 I

12. In as-witch structure; a contact set. a yieldingly mounted rotatable operatin member for said contact set, a restoring: spring for said operating member, a: lonrritudinal'lv movable bar, a hue on said bar for rotatingsaid operating: member to effect operation of said contacts, said operating member be ing normally unengageable by said lug; a

rotatable bar, and a yieldingly mounted finger on said bar, said finger being adapted to impart a preliminary movement to said operating member in response to rotation of said rotatable bar whereby said operating member is rendered engageable by said lug, said operating member When fully operated being disposed beyond the reach of said linger whereby subsequent operations of said finger are incapable of transmitting motion to said contact set.

In a switch structure, a contact set an operating member for said. contactset, an actuating bar for moving said operating member to operate said contact set, said operating member being normally positioned out of cngageable relation with said actuating bar, and a second bar adapted to establish an engageable relation between said operating member and said actuating bar, said operating member when fully operated being unaffected by any subsequent opera tions of said second bar.

14. In a switch structure, a row of contact sets, operating means common to said row a plurality of other operating means'each individual to one of said contact sets, said common operating means and one of said individual. operating means being jointly operable to operate one of said sets, said indi vidual operating means for maintaining the operation of said operated set While mechanically tree from said common operating means whereby said common operating means is subsequently operable to assist in the operation 01 other contact sets Without disturbing the contact set first operatedv In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 3rd day of January, A. D. 1922.

HERBERT B. TAYLOR. 

